Leadership Transition at Life Stories
After 2.5 years of dedicated leadership and service to children and families in Weld County, our Executive Director, Lisa Drake, has made the decision to step down from her role to pursue an exciting new professional opportunity. We are grateful for her leadership and the contributions she has made during her time with Life Stories, and we wish her every success in this next chapter.
While this marks the beginning of a new chapter, our mission remains unchanged. Our Board of Directors and Leadership Team have been thoughtfully preparing for this transition to ensure the continued stability of our organization and the uninterrupted delivery of services to the children and families who rely on us.
We invite you to read the following letters from our Executive Director and Board of Directors, which share more about this transition, celebrate her legacy, and outline our path forward.
Dear Friends,
As I conclude my time with Life Stories, I wanted to personally thank you.
It has been a privilege over the past two and a half years to serve alongside an incredible staff, dedicated volunteers, generous donors, community partners, and so many others who care deeply about children and families.
Your support, encouragement, and commitment have strengthened Life Stories and the mission we all share. Life Stories will continue to grow and thrive because of the dedication of people like you.
Thank you for allowing me to be part of this important work. It has truly been an honor.
With gratitude,
Lisa Drake
A Message from the Board of Directors:
Dear Community Partners,
I am writing to share an important leadership update at Life Stories Child & Family Advocacy. Executive Director Lisa Drake will be leaving the organization in mid-August to pursue a new opportunity. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank Lisa for her leadership and the many contributions she has made to Life Stories during her tenure. We wish her every success in this next chapter.
To ensure a seamless transition, Gwen Schooley has agreed to serve as Interim Executive Director, effective August 17, 2026, while the Board conducts a search for a permanent Executive Director.
Many of you already know Gwen from her previous role as Executive Director of Life Stories, where she served for 15 years. Gwen brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, financial management, grant administration, relationship building, and the complex regulatory and collaborative work that supports our Child Advocacy Center and CASA programs. Most importantly, she is deeply committed to our mission and to the children and families we serve.
Over the coming weeks, Gwen and Lisa will work together to ensure a smooth transition. We are confident this planning will allow Life Stories to continue operating without interruption.
Please know that our commitment to serving children and families, supporting our multidisciplinary partners, and working collaboratively with each of you remains unchanged. We value the strong partnerships we have built with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s Office, the courts, human services, schools, healthcare providers, and our nonprofit partners. Those relationships are fundamental to our mission, and we look forward to continuing our work together.
Please join us in welcoming Gwen back to Life Stories. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me or to Gwen after August 17.
Thank you for your continued partnership and your commitment to the children and families of our community.
Sincerely,
Julie Klein
Board Chair